Porsche is preparing to launch its all-new second-generation Cayenne at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, but a single image of the SUV has found its way onto the net, courtesy Porsche. That’s right, the above image was mistakenly used on Porsche’s official website, showing the second-gen Cayenne sitting amid the rest of the Porsche lineup. After the story broke, Porsche went back and removed the photo, replacing it with a similar image, but using the current Cayenne GTS. The two models don’t look all the different when examined independently, but take a close look between the two (we’ve included both below) and you’ll immediately notice a big difference.

There’s no official word on engines and transmissions, but some reports have suggested the Cayenne will get Porsche’s new 300-hp 3.6-liter V6 (just announced for the Panamera earlier this week). The Cayenne S will get a 400-hp 4.8-liter V8, while the Cayenne Turbo will get a twin-turbo version of that V8 for 500-hp. All models will get a new 8-speed PDK transmission to deliver improved acceleration and fuel economy. Also, expect a new hybrid using Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V6 an a lithium ion battery pack for a total of 380-hp.

AutoGuide will bring you full details on the all-new 2011 Cayenne with our Geneva Auto Show coverage starting March 2nd.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

[Source: MotorAuthority]

According to AutoExpress, the automotive journalists equivalent to the National Enquirer, Honda is planning a CR-Z Type R model. While a host of modifications would be included, like larger brakes and a stiffer suspension, the real boost will apparently come under the hood.

Instead of the lackluster 122-hp hybrid setup, the CR-Z Type R will make 200 healthy horsepower. Surprisingly, this won’t come as the result of K20 (or better yet, a K24 swap) but due to a more powerful gasoline engine, as well as a larger electric motor. While the stock 1.5-liter 4-cylinder makes 102-hp, the new version will make 150-hp. The 20-hp electric motor will then be replaced by a more powerful 50-hp unit. The result will be a much-improved 0-60 mph time of roughly 6 seconds.

The car will even gain a fourth driving mode, known as Sport Plus, which will deliver maximum performance from the hybrid setup, while firming up the steering and throttle response.

AutoExpress claims the vehicle is being planned for next year’s Tokyo Auto Show with sales beginning in Japan in late 2011 as a 2012 model. We certainly hope this report is right, but knowing AutoExpress and the vehicles Honda has been rolling out lately, we won’t get our hopes up. Prove us wrong… please… prove us wrong.

[Source: AutoExpress]

With several teaser images already released of Nissan’s upcoming global small car, the Japanese automaker has now released a video highlighting some of the vehicle’s attributes. According to the video, Nissan has developed a new 3-cylinder engine that displaces just 1.2-liters, which Nissan claims has noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels equivalent to modern 4-cylinder engines.to help out in both areas. There’s no word on power output or expected fuel economy, but the car will use a CVT transmission

The yet unnamed global small car will replace the Micra in other markets, and will come to North America in the near future, slotting in beneath the Versa. It sits on Nissan’s all-new V-platform which was designed to be flexible for different versions of the car in different markets.

We’re likely to see the “new Micra” at the Geneva Auto Show next month.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

View Nissan’s video to learn more about this new global small car after the jump:

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Volkswagen has released three images of the 2010 Polo GTI, which will be introduced at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March.

The 2010 Polo GTI will be powered by a 1.4 liter TSI engine, claiming 178 bhp, and a seven-speed DSG transmission. The GTI version stands 0.6 inches lower and uses stiffer suspension than the regular Polo. The Polo GTI will also use Volkswagen’s XDS electronic cross-axle traction control system for improved handling.

Inside, the Polo GTI features tartan cloth seats and flat-bottomed steering wheel.

AutoGuide.com will have more when the 2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI makes its debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI

[Source: AutoExpress]

At the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, Jaguar will unveil a new Special Edition version of the XKR. Technically, the Special Edition model is a combination of two new option packs, the Speed Pack and the Black Pack.

The Speed Pack is quite simple, raising the top speed of the 510-hp supercharged V8 from 155 mph to a more frightening 174 mph. The Black Pack is essentially a new styling option and includes new front and rear spoilers, a new rear lip spoiler, 20-inch gloss-black Kalimnos wheels with red brake calipers and black trim for the window surrounds, front grilles and side vents. Jag will even offer an XKR decal for the side of the car. Inside, all Black Pack models will get charcoal leather with a variety of stitching choices, as well as three interior trim options Dark Oak, Dark Mesh Aluminum and Piano Black. Outside, all Black Pack models will be available in three paint colors: Ultimate Black, Polaris White or Salsa Red.

Pricing for the packages has not yet been released, but we should have more for you when Jaguar gives the Special Edition XKR its official debut at the Geneva Auto Show on March 2nd.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Jaguar XKR Special Edition

Official release after the jump:

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While we can’t write any driving impressions about the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata due to an embargo that lifts Monday, we can tell you that during the vehicle’s launch our car achieved an incredible 46.8 mpg. And as impressive as that number sounds, it was still only enough to earn the team of AutoGuide.com Editor-in-Chief Colum Wood and TopSpeed.com Senior Editor Philippe Daix a bronze medal. First place went to the team of Donald Buffamanti of AutoSpies and Jaime Florez of Ruedas ESPN with a 52.8 mpg rating that would even impress a Prius.

The gold medal winners got more than just praise, however, as Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik offered to treat anyone who could beat his personal time of 47.8 mpg to a private dinner.

We’ll be the first to admit that the 46.8 mpg rating was hardly done under real world conditions. Although while Buffamanti and Florez used cruise control up hills and coasted in neutral down hills (despite engineers saying that it shouldn’t matter), we even used our air conditioning, albeit only when going down hill.

For the record, Hyundai officially rates the 2011 Sonata at 24/35 mpg (city/highway) for the manual transmission and 22/35 mpg for the automatic. To put these numbers, and our 46.8 mpg number into perspective, the Toyota Prius is rated at 51/48 mpg, while during a similar fuel economy challenge we managed 65 mpg in the Prius. And while you won’t get Prius fuel economy numbers out of a Sonata, you will get a vehicle that is so spacious its technically classified as a large sedan by the EPA, plus it delivers 198-hp!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a probe to investigate if Toyota issued its recalls in a timely manner. The NHTSA will use its statutory powers to obtain documents from Toyota and investigate how it learned of the defects in vehicles and when it knew about them. Automakers are required by law to issue recalls in a timely manner, otherwise they can be penalized to the tune of $16.4 million. While the monetary amount may be trivial to a company like Toyota, the bad publicity surrounding it could cost billions.

The NHTSA will also examine if Toyota has any other potential recalls that it has not made public yet.

“Our top priority is safety and we expect that all manufacturers address automotive safety issues quickly and in a forthright manner,” said David Strickland, Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For its part, Toyota has said it will cooperate with the NHTSA, stating that, “Toyota takes its responsibility to advance vehicle safety seriously and to alert government officials of any safety issue in a timely manner.”

Get more Toyota recall information at AutoGuide’s Toyota Recall News Hub

Official release after the jump:

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With the launch of the new A8, Audi introduced its first 8-speed automatic transmission and the company has taken a shine to the new unit. According to a report by Inside Line, Audi is looking to equip more of its models with the 8-speed auto-box. That’s hardly news, were it not for the fact that it appears “more of its models” really means “almost all of its models.” In fact, Audi is even considering an 8-speed for the A3.

With BMW and Lexus both offering an 8-speed and Mercedes with its 7-speed, Audi may look to leap-frog its luxury rivals by offering the 8-speed to more than just top-tier models. This move would allow Audi to improve both acceleration and fuel economy by a significant margin.

An 8-speed in the A3 might take a while though and we expect the next Audi model to get the A8′s transmission will be the upcoming A7.

[Source: Inside Line]

Thanks to a citizen journalist, or should we say citizen spy photographer, we now have several images of Pagani’s upcoming Zonda replacement, the C9. These photos of the car were shot by an Autoblog reader who passed by the transport rig parked on the side of the highway in near the airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Most likely this isn’t a very accurate idea of what the C9 will look like and it appears as though this test mule is using a modified Zonda body to cover up the important parts underneath.

According to the now-amateur spy photographer, many automakers test vehicles in South Africa, using large areas of unused public road – hence the stickers.

What we do know about the C9 is that it will be built of carbon and titanium and will also be powered by a V12 engine. The new V12 will displace 6.0-liters, however, and make 690-hp and 737 ft-lbs of torque. Company owner Horacio Pagani has said that the new model will meet U.S. crash test and emissions regulations, meaning that unlike the Zonda it will be sold in the U.S.

GALLERY: Pagani C9 Spied

[Source: Autoblog]

With Ford President Mark Fields has already confirmed that Mercury will get a new compact model based on the new Focus platform and now it seems that car’s name has gone public. According to a report by Automotive News, Mercury intends to bring back the Tracer name. This certainly makes sense as the the Tracer was historically the sister car to the Escort, which the Focus replaced.

There’s no word on what exactly will differentiate the Tracer from the Focus, but it’s likely the Mercury will only be offered in four-door form. Oh, and of course Ford will also have to develop a branded MyMercury Touch system to mirror the MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch interface systems currently being brought onto the market.

Ford hasn’t given much else in the way of details for the Mercury, but we imagine it could debut late this year as a 2011 or more likely in 2011 as a 2012.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]